Dogmatics

1981-86 (Vagrant/Shredder)
by Joshua Brown

Dogmatics were like a more laid-back Doggy Style, with an obvious, albeit slowed-down Ramones’ influence. It’s difficult to believe that they helped spawn Smackmelon, but they were a lot younger then. At this point, they’re an anachronism. The music is too dated to be pertinent, and we haven’t gotten enough distance yet to be nostalgic. What’s still fun are the Cramps-ish squeals of “Good Looking Girls” and the spoof “Hardcore Rules.” (“No Such Thing as Rock ‘N’ Roll/Only SSDecontrol”).